Mount Hebron High School teacher Matthew Barth, 44, of Ellicott City, was arrested Thursday in North Carolina and charged with sexual abuse of a minor and a third-degree sex offense, the Howard County Police Department said in a news release.
Barth was placed on administrative leave and barred from accessing school buildings once the Howard County Public School System was informed of the accusation on Wednesday, school system spokesperson Brian Bassett said in an email.
In an email to the school community Thursday afternoon, Superintendent Michael Martirano said Barth taught at Mount Hebron since 2003, and that it was his only school of employment. He is listed under the English department on the school’s website.
Police spokesperson Sherry Llewellyn said in an email that Barth was arrested without incident in Jackson County, North Carolina, and is awaiting an extradition hearing.
“We are asking any additional victims to come forward,” Llewellyn said. “He is charged with sexual abuse of one victim at this time.”
Police said they were notified May 2 of suspected abuse of a 15-year-old student by a friend of the student. Police said they believe multiple incidents occurred inside the school during a period of about four months. They said electronic records appear to indicate sexual contact between Barth and the student. Police declined to specify the type of records.
“I am deeply concerned and disturbed at this news, and I know that like me, many of our staff, parents and guardians will have concerns,” Martirano said. “As we process this news, we have to make sure that we put every support in place to help our students who are impacted by this news or may have difficulty processing this.”